Tukwila’s 2023 Holiday Gift Guide

Nestled right there between Taylor Swift’s Eras World Tour, Barbenheimer, and Fat Bear Week is the 2023 Tukwila Holiday Gift Guide. This event comes just once a year, but the joy it produces is pretty much limitless. We’ve made our list and checked it twice. Now it’s your turn to give it a once over. You’ll see a lot of returning favorites as well as many new faces this year. So go ahead, dive in, dig around, and come away with amazing gift ideas that will help you win the holidays! 

For the Mega Fan:

    • Seawolves Jersey/2024 Season TicketsShow your commitment to the best rugby team in the universe (we’re not biased, promise). Sport a fresh new jersey, or go all in on season tickets for the Seawolves 2024 season!
    • OL Reign/Sounders Merch: Tukwila is overflowing with talent, which means you should be overloaded with swag. Grab the latest OL Reign and Seattle Sounders merch to complete your full #champstrainintukwila wardrobe. 

For the Sporty:

    • Mayweather Boxing: Here’s a gift that’s undefeated – a membership to Mayweather Boxing! Train like a champ in this one-of-a-kind, high-intensity gym that builds community and muscle. 
    • Starfire Camps for Kids/ Adult Drop-Ins: You can’t score a goal with an iPad. Give your kid the gift that keeps on giving them a reason to be outside. Starfire Sports has plenty of camps for kids eager to take to the pitch.
    • Foster Golf Links: There’s nothing quite like sending a tiny ball sailing through a hall of towering Douglas firs and lush ferns. Don’t miss out on the holiday special at Foster Golf Links!

For the Playful:

    • Sykart: This is an easy one because everyone loves go-karts. If they say otherwise, they’re lying. Take your gift-giving from 0 to 60 with Sykart – the PNW’s premiere indoor go-kart track. 
    • Dimension XR: Every year someone gives the gift of a VR headset. And every year a living room gets destroyed. This year, protect your house by leaving VR to the professionals. Book a reservation at Dimension XR today.
    • Legacy Gaming: Gaming lounges are a great way to enjoy classic video games and make friends. Legacy Gaming offers a wide range of packages for every type of gamer.
    • iFly: Experience what it’s like to drop from thousands of feet in the air while barely leaving the ground. iFly is a fun way for the whole family to experience a whole new level of joy this holiday season.
    • Tukwila Family Fun Center: Spend the holidays at everyone’s favorite fun center. Right now, Tukwila Family Fun Center is offering $10 off when you buy $50 in gift certificates. Go-karts, bowling, games, and more!
    • Defy: You haven’t trampolined until you’ve trampolined at Defy. Give the gift of defying gravity with a membership card + a Holidays Perks Passport.

For the Experiential Type:

    • Meadmaking ClassHere’s a pretty sweet idea for the holidays – mead-making! Connect to thousands of years of history with a private mead-making class from Jon Oppegaard, the Owner and Head Meadmaker for Oppegaard Meadery. Want to read more about the business before you commit? Check out the blog on our recent meadery visit!
    • Seattle Chocolate Factory Tour: Speaking of sweet, what’s a holiday gift guide without Seattle Chocolate? Treat your family and friends to a factory tour of this Tukwila institution to see how much love goes into making your favorite bar of chocolate.
    • Tickets to Rainier Symphony: For all the music lovers out there, Tukwila is home to one of the finest community orchestras around. Grab tickets for a night at the Rainier Symphony listening to all your favorite holiday classics.
    • Museum of Flight Membership: A full-size airplane won’t fit in a gift box, but a membership to The Museum of Flight will! With over 175 aircraft and spacecraft, dozens of exhibits, and thousands of artifacts, it’s the perfect gift for the history buff in your family. While you’re on their site, check out their rocking gift guide for more inspiration.

For the Foodie:

    • Spice Bridge Shop: Everyone knows Spice Bridge for their amazing rotating menu of globally inspired dishes. But did you know they also have a swag shop? Pick up a tote or gift card for that special foodie in your family!
    • Bacovino Wine: A wine tasting never misses. Take that special someone out for a romantic night at Bacovino Wine. There’s a tasting room in Tukwila? You bet your cork there is!

For the Stylish: 

    • SouthcenterWhen you don’t know how to shop for someone, just give them the gift of shopping! Westfield Southcenter has gift cards for all the amazing brands in Washington’s favorite mall.
    • The Cool NW Clothing: Help them update their wardrobe with The Cool NW – a lifestyle boutique that has been creating elevated streetwear in Tukwila since 2009.

Tukwila’s 2022 Holiday Gift Guide

Like promising the dentist you’ll floss better before the next visit, every holiday season you swear to yourself that you’ll be better about shopping next year. But here we are again. It’s mid-December and your gift list is nearly empty of check marks. The days are getting shorter and the holiday music is growing louder. You feel boxed in, much like the many gifts you’ve procrastinated buying should be. Alas, what is that? There on your computer screen, a blue light beacon of hope drawing you near. Yes, of course! The annual Experience Tukwila Gift Giving Guide! 

All is saved with this handy list on your side. Explore the variety of places right here in Tukwila perfect for last minute gift ideas. 

 

FOR THE SPORTY

Urban Warriors: Help kids find their inner warrior and develop crucial physical and coordination skills at Urban Warriors. Choose from a variety of group packages or private lessons for youth! 

Mayweather Boxing and Fitness: There’s only one gift that’s a guaranteed knockout: a class with Mayweather Boxing + Fitness. Step into the ring for a one time 45 minute workout, or go all in with an 8 class per month membership. 

Seawolves Jersey: Get the new kit to up your drip. Seawolves are back with a slick new jersey that’s perfect for every rugby fan. #JoinTheHunt and help rep these hometown heroes. Can you spot the easter egg on the back? Find it in their full team store

OL Reign: For the soccer fan, load up on some OL Reign swag and then swing on over to Starfire Sports to try and get a sneak peek of their practice session starting in 2023. Tukwila is beyond thrilled to be the new host of their official training program. 

Foster Golf Links: Give them some green this holiday. Tukwila’s premiere golf course, Foster Golf Links, is running a Holiday Special now through December 31st.

 

FOR THE ADVENTUROUS 

iFly: Lift others up this holiday season with the gift of flight. Right now you can save up to 35% on flights at Tukwila’s indoor skydiving center, iFly

SyKart: Shift your gift giving into a higher gear with a gift card from Tukwila’s favorite indoor racing park, SyKart. This adrenaline-pumping racing experience is a perfect way for the whole family to battle out the holiday stress. 

Museum of Flight: Celebrate the magic of the holidays with the magic of flight. The Museum of Flight has a hangar full of the perfect gadgets and toys for your favorite aviation enthusiast. Check out their own 2022 holiday gift guide!

 

FOR THE TECHIE 

Dimension XR: Take gift giving to new dimensions with a round of VR Laser Tag at Dimension XR. This premier virtual reality gaming experience is unleashing new ways to have fun together. 

Legacy Gaming: For decades, video games have been at the top of the gift list. So why change that? Take the whole family for an out of this world gaming experience at Legacy Gaming. From retro arcade classics to futurist VR experiences, this local gaming lounge has it all.

 

FOR THE FOODIE

Seattle Chocolates: For that sweet someone, give the gift never fails: chocolate. Right now at the Seattle Chocolate factory, you can stock up on stocking stuffers and gift baskets filled with some of the best holiday treats. 

Oppegaard Mead: Make the holidays epic with a bottle of mead from Oppegaard Meadery located right here in Tukwila. Feeling more adventurous? Take them for an in-person tasting of this legendary drink. 

Spice Bridge Shop: Let’s be real, the best part of the holidays is the food. Keep the feast going with a gift card or tasty treats from Tukwila’s favorite global food hall, Spice Bridge

Tukwila Village Farmers Market Makes Space for Everyone

On a warm Wednesday afternoon, I made my way down to the Tukwila Village Farmers Market with tote in hand and grand expectations of a bustling, crowded event. As I walked around the north side of the Tukwila Library toward the Sullivan Center, I was greeted with a much simpler scene that challenged my preconceptions of what makes a market.

Most markets I visit tend to be a zoo of people and booths; Often I find myself sucked into a maze of stalls and people with very little freedom to decide my own course. It’s harder to learn more about the vendors themselves, and dive deeper into what makes the market unique. In Tukwila, the flow is noticeably different; excess and abundance are traded for space—the defining characteristic of this beautifully simple market that asks you to slow down and spend a little time, not just a little money. 

Out on the concrete plaza nestled between 144th and 41st were 6-8 stalls curving around the steps of the Sullivan Center. I was a little taken aback at first by how sparse the space was, but as I made my way down the steps and into the heart of the market, I felt at ease with its openness; it was simple and welcoming; the distinctions between vendor and visitor appeared blurred, resulting in a setting that felt more social than transactional. Flashy logos and branding were uncommon, replaced almost entirely by the personalities of the vendors themselves to do the selling. 

Without much of a plan, I began my stroll on the opposite end of the market. The first stall I visited was a vegetable stand hosted by farmers who had just finished lining their table with the latest harvest. I picked out a fresh bushel of kale and used the moment of my transaction to strike up a conversation with one of the vendors, simply asking what they thought of the market and what makes it unique. They were quick to comment on the accessibility and cooperation between businesses, mentioning that they work in tandem with the Food Innovation Network and IRC to help local farmers—many of whom are immigrants or refugees—get up to speed with supplying and manning their own stalls in the market. Apparently, reserving a space is completely free, requiring only proof of a retail license. Most farmers markets demand steep rental fees, leaving little space for low income candidates to get their businesses started. In Tukwila, however, it seemed that competition took a back seat to cooperation.

I continued down the row of stalls with ease, admiring the lack of pressure I felt to make my time quick at each stop. Friendly faces welcomed me at every table, eager to have me come in and see what they were up to. Along the way I was asked for my opinion on budget allocation ideas for the city of Tukwila, introduced to a new rideshare system that shuttles people across town for free, and even invited to Tukwila’s next See You in the Park event—reminded multiple times that there would be fresh donuts

After chatting about donuts, I made my way down the line to the next stall, attracted by a beautiful display of colorful garments spilling over the vendor’s table and hanging from the roof of the tent. A woman dressed in an equally-stunning combination of designs made her way over and welcomed me to her stand. Her name was Helen and all of the colorful pieces on display were her creations—the results of years of dedicated crocheting, a passion which she discovered at just six years old. “I started and never stopped,” she remarked proudly while showing me around her shop. 

Scarves, pillows, blankets, hats, tops and more filled the stand, all brought into being by her talented hand. I admired the delicate intricacy of a pair of earrings on display in the corner; colorful woven crescents curving around an open circular space, reminding me much of the simple layout of the market in which I stood. “Imagine wrapping yourself up on the beach in one of these!” Helen broke in. I looked up to see her smiling from within the warm embrace of a crochet throw blanket, modeling how to best wear the colorful cozy web of fabric. Her enthusiasm for each piece was incredibly charming and indicative of the love and care she put into her work, which was made even more impressive once I discovered that crocheting wasn’t her only talent.

In addition to creating and selling garments and accessories in the market and online, Helen is also a dedicated farmer. “The market helped open up new avenues of business for me,” she explained. “I actually started with a produce stand here, and doing that showed me that I could also open a stand for my crafts business.” The low barrier to entry was key to getting her start at the farmers market. Arriving in Washington from Kenya just a few years ago, Helen was pleased to quickly find an opportunity to display her talents and get her products on the market. She puts much of the money she earns at the Tukwila market towards eventually bringing the rest of her family over to the states. In the meantime, she has been hard at work perfecting her many talents and even setting her sights on opening up a dedicated storefront somewhere in the city. While talking about her success at the market she couldn’t help but laugh when remembering just how hesitant she initially was to get started. “I want to encourage other farmers to take on the challenge of opening their stalls here, it’s so much easier than you think!” 

I left Helen’s stall and headed back to my car with a beautiful crochet scarf and a better understanding of what makes the Tukwila market such a special place. In addition to the lovely variety of local vendors providing fresh produce, crafts, and civic engagement opportunities, I was also acutely reminded of the importance of making space—not just for ourselves, but also for others, especially those who have the cards stacked against them. It’s far more rewarding to make some room than to endlessly search for it. I had visited the Tukwila Village Farmers Market and discovered a micro community that felt very much reflective of the city as a whole—a diverse collection of people and talents that only grows stronger as more space is shared.

A Tukwila Holiday Gift Guide

The holiday gift season sneaks up on all of us. Before you know it, Black Friday is but a distant memory, and the dread of battling last-minute gift procrastinator traffic starts to set in. There’s got to be a better way!

This year, relish unmatched convenience and variety while finding something special for the most difficult on your gift list right here in Tukwila. From delicious local food gift boxes and crowd-pleasing family entertainment offerings, to unique local apparel and stocking stuffers, you’re guaranteed to find something for everyone. We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite Tukwila gifting highlights below. If you see something you like, we recommend purchasing as soon as possible while supplies last.

For the sports fan:

Seattle Seawolves: Grab tickets or merchandise for the region’s favorite Major League Rugby team, the Seattle Seawolves. Single match ticket pricing starts at around $30, and the team store has everything to deck out the whole family in fan gear, including mugs, hats, apparel, and more.

 

For the lifelong learner:

Museum of Flight Store: Find the perfect gift for young and old aviation and engineering fans in your life at the Museum of Flight. Browse the unique apparel and accessories, books, games, model airplanes, hands-on crafts, and more. For inspiration, check out their holiday gift guide.

 

 

For the foodie:

Spice Bridge: Grab one of their limited-edition holiday gift boxes filled with delicious treats from a variety of vendors, including hot sauce, caramelized peanuts, snack mix, and cinnamon almonds, just to name a few. Hosting a holiday party? Check out their party platters, customizable to serve up to 20 people.

 

Seattle Chocolates: For those with a sweet tooth, grab one of Seattle Chocolate’s inspired gift boxes filled with beautifully decorated, delicious chocolate.

 

 

For the whole family:

Tukwila Family Fun Center: Check out their bonus gift card offer – buy $10 in gift certificates and get $10 free. With dozens of activities to choose from, this gift is sure to be a whole-family pleaser.

 

 

 

DEFY: This indoor air park has holiday deals on punch cards, annual passes, gift cards, and more. A great gift for active, adventurous kids and adults alike. Check out the holiday deals here.